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Checklist of Georgian centipedes (Myriapoda: Chilopoda)
expand article infoEleonora Kiria‡, Shalva Barjadze‡, Ivan Hadrián Tuf§
‡ Ilia State University, Tbilisi, Georgia
§ Palacký University Olomouc, Olomouc, Czech Republic

Corresponding author: Eleonora Kiria ( eleonora.kiria.1@iliauni.edu.ge )

Academic editor: Dragan Antić
© 2023 Eleonora Kiria, Shalva Barjadze, Ivan Hadrián Tuf.
This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY 4.0), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.
Citation: Kiria E, Barjadze S, Tuf IH (2023) Checklist of Georgian centipedes (Myriapoda: Chilopoda). Caucasiana 2: 177-188. https://doi.org/10.3897/caucasiana.2.e108535
ZooBank: urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:006F3E46-8B12-4CFC-9C78-6E295B7A36EB
Open Access

Abstract

The Caucasus ecoregion is distinguished by its biodiversity. The flora and fauna of the ecoregion became the study area of many zoologists and botanists. Georgia, as a part of it, is important for its valuable and impressive diversity. However, despite many years of scientific research, certain groups, among them centipedes, are not so well studied. This is the first comprehensive summary of current knowledge about centipedes distributed in the territory of Georgia, based on literature data. It provides information about 59 taxa (57 species and two subspecies) known from Georgia, belonging to 16 genera in seven families from four orders. Nineteen species are endemic to the Caucasus, eight of which are Georgian endemics. Among them, two species: Cryptops datviensis Tuf, Barjadze, and Maghradze, 2022, and Harpolithobius birsteini Zalesskaja, 1972, are troglobiotic. Another four species (Lithobius caucasicus Sseliwanoff, 1881; Lamyctes coeculus (Brölemann, 1889); Lithobius semperi (Haase, 1887); and Scolopocryptops nigridus McNeill, 1887) are considered doubtful records. An overview of local and global distribution for each taxon is included. Lithobius fasciatus Muralevitch, 1929, syn. nov. is formally synonymized with Lithobius striatus Muralevitch, 1926.

Key words

South Caucasus, endemic species, species inventory, review

Introduction

Centipedes are predatory soil invertebrates mostly found in moist habitats. They spend the day under stones, bark, and leaf litter and go hunting at night. Their habit is mainly cryptozoic; they are rarely seen in daylight (Voigtländer 2011). Morphologically, they are elongated, flattened, active forms, found in various biomes, from forests to deserts (Coleman et al. 2004).

The presented checklist of Georgian centipedes includes all recorded species from the territory of Georgia, Caucasus. The first recorded centipede taxa from the country belongs to Eichwald (1841), who recorded Geophilus electricus (Linnaeus, 1758), Scolopendra cingulata Latreille, 1829, and Scutigera coleoptrata (Linnaeus, 1758). Kessler (1874) mentioned S. cingulata from Georgia, but the precise sampling location is not specified in the paper. In 1881, Sseliwanoff recorded six taxa from Georgia, including three new species for science (Lithobius erythrocephalus cronebergii Sseliwanoff, 1881; L. lapidicola Meinert, 1872; L. mutabilis L. Koch, 1862; L. portchinskii Sseliwanoff, 1881; L. taczanowski Sseliwanoff, 1881; and L. viriatus Sseliwanoff, 1880). Later on, Muralevitch (1907, 1910, 1926, 1929) and Zalesskaja (1972, 1972a, 1976, 1978) made a valuable contribution to the research of Georgian centipedes. They published several papers about the Caucasus and the USSR. Since Georgia was a Soviet country, we got valuable information by processing the publications that were related to the USSR. Muralevitch (1907, 1926) described three new species (Lithobius circassus Muralevitch, 1907; L. striatus Muralevitch, 1926; and L. verrucifer Muralevitch, 1926) from the territory of Georgia. After that, Zalesskaja (1972) described two more species, Harpolithobius birsteini Zalesskaja, 1972, and H. perplexus Zalesskaja, 1972, from Abkhazia, western Georgia. In addition, they published information about new records from Georgia. Therefore, both scientists have greatly contributed to the accumulation of current knowledge.

Since most of the literature referring to old records of centipedes in Georgia is not readily available, here we attempt to comprehensively review the knowledge accumulated to date on Georgian centipedes and develop the first checklist of taxa.

Materials and methods

To compile the centipede species list for Georgia, we have reviewed all the literature published so far dealing with the fauna of centipedes in Georgia and the Caucasus in general. The classification of centipedes and the currently valid names of the individual taxa, as well as the synonyms, are given according to Chilobase (Bonato et al. 2016). The Latin names are arranged alphabetically for genera in the families and species in the genera.

A map showing the distribution of centipedes in Georgia has been prepared using QGIS (3.22.3) and Google Earth Pro v. 7.3.6. The geographic data given in the literature were usually without precise geographical coordinates, and in most cases, we were unable to locate sampling points at a fine scale. Therefore, the localities were geo-referenced by their geo-names using the Google Earth engine and geo-r on the map with varying accuracy. Altogether, 57 localities were found in published literature. On the map (Figure 1), the georeferenced localities were coded by numbers increasing from the west to the east. The following alphabetical list of localities is completed by the codes of localities, as used in Fig. 1 and in relevant paragraphs for every species. List of localities: Akhalgori (46); Akhali Atoni (4); Akhalkalaki (34); Akhalsheni (6); Ambrolauri (29); Bakuriani (35); Batumi (12); Bichvinta (2); Borjomi (33); Borjom-Kharagauli National Park (31); Chakvi (17); Chkhalta (13); Chiatura (32); Chuneshi Cave (22); Datvi Cave (23); Gromi (40); Kvemo Ermani (41); Eshera (5); Efremovka (37) Gagra (1); Gudauri (45); Jvari pass (44); Karsani (50); Kaspi (43); Kazbegi (48); Kevselta (38); Khorga (19); Kintrishi protected areas (21); Kobi (47); Kobuleti (18); Kojori (52); Kvaisi (36); Lagodekhi (57); Lata (10); Machkhaani (55); Makhinjauri (15); Manglisi (42); Marukhi summit (9); Mirzaani (56); Mtskheta (51); Mtsvane Kontskhi (16); Orpiri Cave (27); Otapistavi Cave (11); Ozurgeti (20); Poti (14); Sakishore Cave (30); Sataplia Nature Reserve (26); Sataplia cave (24); Sioni (54); Sokhumi (7); Tbilisi (53); Tetritskala (3); Tkibuli (28); Tsebelda (8); Tsodoreti (49); Tusrebi (39); Zeda Kvilishori Cave (25).

Figure 1. 

Distribution map of centipede species recorded in Georgia, Caucasus, based on literature data. Yellow circles represent the localities from which records of centipedes were published (for codes see Materials and methods).

Results

Order Scutigeromorpha Pocock, 1895

Family Scutigeridae Leach, 1814

Genus Scutigera Lamarck, 1801

Scutigera coleoptrata (Linnaeus, 1758)

Distribution in Georgia

Abkhazia • Tsikherva Cave (Gagra) (1) (Birstein 1950; Barjadze et al. 2015). • Sokhumi (7) (Muralevitch 1926, 1929 as Scutigera morpha genuina Verhoeff, 1905; Muralevitch 1929 as S. morpha aranea). Adjara • Batumi (12) (Attems 1907). • Kobuleti (18) (Muralevitch 1926, 1929 as S. morpha genuina Verhoeff, 1905; Muralevitch 1929 as S. morpha aranea). Mtskheta-Mtianeti • Gudauri (45) (Muralevitch 1926 as S. morpha araneoides). • Tbilisi (53) (Eichwald 1841; Muralevitch 1926, 1929, as S. morpha araneoides Pallas, 1772; Muralevitch 1929 as S. morpha aranea Scopoli, 1763).

Global distribution

Native to the Mediterranean region, synanthropic throughout much of the world (Zuev 2016).

Order Lithobiomorpha Pocock, 1895

Family Lithobiidae Pocock, 1895

Genus Australobius Chamberlin, 1920

Australobius devertens (Trotzina, 1894)

Distribution in Georgia

Adjara • Batumi (12) (Attems 1907; Muralevitch 1926 as Lithobius devertens Trotzina, 1894).

Global distribution

Georgia (Attems 1907; Bonato et al. 2016; Muralevitch 1926), Kyrgyzstan (Bonato et al. 2016).

Genus Harpolithobius Verhoeff, 1904

Harpolithobius anodus (Latzel, 1880)

Distribution in Georgia

Kakheti • Lagodekhi (57) (Muralevitch 1926, 1929 as Lithobius anodus aberrans Muralevitch, 1926).

Global distribution

Albania, Austria, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Montenegro, Poland, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Turkey, Ukraine (Bonato et al. 2016), Georgia (Muralevitch 1926, 1929).

Harpolithobius birsteini Zalesskaja, 1972

Distribution in Georgia

Abkhazia • Sokhumi (Avidzba Cave) (7) (Zalesskaja 1972, 1978).

Global distribution

Georgia (Zalesskaja 1972, 1978; Bonato et al. 2016).

Note

Endemic to Georgia.

Harpolithobius perplexus Zalesskaja, 1972

Distribution in Georgia

Abkhazia • Akhalsheni (6) (Zalesskaja 1972, 1978). • Sokhumi (7) (Zalesskaja 1978). • unnamed caves near Sokhumi (7) (Turbanov et al. 2016). Adjara • Batumi (12) (Zalesskaja 1972, 1978). • Makhinjauri (15) (Zalesskaja 1972, 1978). • Mtsvane Kontskhi (16) (Zalesskaja 1972, 1978). • Kintrishi Strict Nature Reserve (21) (Zalesskaja 1972, 1978). Guria • Ozurgeti (20) (Zalesskaja 1972, 1978). Samegrelo-Zemo Svaneti • Khorga (19) (Zalesskaja 1978). Imereti • Sataplia Nature Reserve (26) (Zalesskaja 1972, 1978). Samtskhe-Javakheti • Borjomi National Park (now called as Borjom-Kharagauli National Park; specimens are found in Borjomi territory) (31) (Zalesskaja 1972, 1978).

Global distribution

Azerbaijan, Turkey (Bonato et al. 2016), Georgia (Bonato et al. 2016; Turbanov et al. 2016; Zalesskaja 1972, 1978).

Genus Lithobius Leach, 1814

Lithobius aeruginosus L. Koch, 1862

Distribution in Georgia

Abkhazia • Tetritskala (3) (Muralevitch 1910, 1926, 1929). • Akhalsheni (6) (Zalesskaja 1972). Samtskhe-Javakheti • Bakuriani (35) (Zalesskaja 1972).

Global distribution

Albania, Austria, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Caucasus, Croatia, Czech Republic, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, Netherlands, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Switzerland, Turkey, Ukraine (Simaiakis et al. 2016), Azerbaijan (Bababekova 1996), Georgia (Muralevitch 1910, 1926, 1929; Zalesskaja 1972), Iran (Zarei et al 2020).

Lithobius asper Muralevitch, 1926

Distribution in Georgia

Samtskhe-Javakheti • Village Efremovka (37) (Muralevitch 1926).

Global distribution

Distributed only in the Caucasus (Zalesskaja 1978), Georgia (Muralevitch 1926).

Note

Endemic to the Caucasus.

Lithobius circassus Muralevitch, 1907

Distribution in Georgia

Kvemo Kartli • Manglisi (42) (Muralevitch 1907).

Global distribution

Georgia (Muralevitch 1907; Bonato et al. 2016).

Note

Endemic to Georgia.

Lithobius colchicus Muralevitch, 1907

Distribution in Georgia

Kakheti • Lagodekhi (57) (Muralevitch 1926, 1929).

Global distribution

Georgia (Muralevitch 1926, 1929), Russia (Muralevitch 1907).

Note

Endemic to the Caucasus.

Lithobius coloratus Sseliwanoff, 1881

Distribution in Georgia

Abkhazia • Akhali Atoni (=Novy Afon) (4) (Muralevitch 1926, 1929). • Akhalsheni (6) (Zalesskaja 1972). Racha-Lechkhumi and Kvemo Svaneti • Tsivtskala II Cave (Ambrolauri) (29) (Zalesskaja 1972). • Tsivtskala Cave (Ambrolauri) (29) (Barjadze et al. 2015; Turbanov et al. 2016). Mtskheta-Mtianeti • Kobi (47) (Muralevitch 1929). • Stepantsminda (=Kazbegi) (48) (Muralevitch 1926, 1929).

Global distribution

Azerbaijan (Bababekova 1996), Georgia (Muralevitch 1926, 1929; Zalesskaja 1972; Turbanov et al. 2016), Russia (Muralevitch 1929).

Lithobius corniger Lignau, 1914

Distribution in Georgia

Abkhazia • Eshera (5) (Lignau 1914). • Tsebelda (8) (Lignau 1914). • Lata (10) (Lignau 1914). • Chkhalta (13) (Lignau 1914). • Abkhazia, without precise locality (Zalesskaja 1972a).

Global distribution

Georgia (Lignau 1914).

Note

Endemic to Georgia.

Lithobius crassipes L. Koch, 1862

Distribution in Georgia

Abkhazia • village Eshera (5) (Lignau 1914). • Akhalsheni (6) (Zalesskaja 1972). • Lata (10) (Lignau 1914). • bank of the river Chkhalta at 1180-1200 m a.s.l. (13) (Lignau 1914). Adjara • Mtsvane Kontskhi (16) (Zalesskaja 1972). • Batumi (12) (Attems 1907). Samtskhe-Javakheti • Bakuriani (35) (Zalesskaja 1972).

Global distribution

Albania, Algeria, Austria, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Lithuania, Luxembourg, North Macedonia, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Romania, Russia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Tunisia, Turkey, Ukraine, United Kingdom (Bonato et al. 2016), Azerbaijan (Bababekova 1996), Georgia (Attems 1907; Lignau 1914; Zalesskaja 1972).

Lithobius curtipes C. L. Koch, 1847

Distribution in Georgia

Abkhazia • Akhali Atoni (=Novy Afon) (4) (Muralevitch 1910, 1929). • near Sokhumi (on the road to Akhali Atoni monastery, about 5 km from the city) (7) (Lignau, 1914 as Lithobius curtipes caucasicus Lignau, 1914). • Marukhi summit at 1800-2100 m a.s.l. (9) (Attems 1901, Muralevitch 1910). • bank of the river Chkhalta at 1130 m a.s.l. (13) (Attems 1901, Muralevitch 1910). Adjara • Kobuleti (18) (Muralevitch 1910, 1926, 1929). Shida Kartli • Tusrebi (39) (Attems 1901, Muralevitch 1910, 1929). • Kaspi (43) (Zalesskaja 1972 as Monotarsobius baloghi baloghi Loksa, 1947, according to Zalesskaja´s own handwritten notes in printout in Tuf´s private collection). Mtskheta-Mtianeti • Jvari pass (44) (Zalesskaja 1972 as Monotarsobius baloghi baloghi Loksa, 1947, according to Zalesskaja´s own handwritten notes in printout in Tuf´s private collection). • Gudauri (45) (Muralevitch 1910, 1926, 1929). • Kobi (47) (Muralevitch 1910, 1926, 1929). • Stepantsminda (=Kazbegi) (48) (Muralevitch 1910, 1926, 1929). • Tbilisi (53) (Muralevitch 1910, 1926, 1929). Kakheti • Machkhaani (=Maschchan) (55) (Muralevitch 1910). • Mirzaani (=Mrzajan) (56) (Muralevitch 1910).

Global distribution

Austria, Belgium, Belarus, Czech Republic, Denmark, France, Germany, Hungary, Lithuania, Moldova, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Romania, Russia, Slovakia, Sweden, Switzerland, Ukraine, United Kingdom (Zalesskaja 1978, Bonato et al. 2016), Azerbaijan (Bababekova 1996), Georgia (Lignau 1914; Muralevitch 1910, 1926, 1929; Zalesskaja 1972).

Lithobius elegans Sseliwanoff, 1881

Distribution in Georgia

Abkhazia • Eshera (5) (Muralevitch 1926, 1929). • Near Sokhumi (7) (Muralevitch 1926, 1929). • Sokhumi (7) (Muralevitch 1926, 1929). • Tsebelda (8) (Muralevitch 1926, 1929). • Marukhi summit (9) (Lignau 1914). • Lata (10) (Muralevitch 1926, 1929). • Chkhalta (13) (Muralevitch 1926, 1929). Mtskheta-Mtianeti • Kobi (47) (Muralevitch 1926, 1929). Kakheti • Mirzaani (56) (Muralevitch 1926). • Lagodekhi (57) (Muralevitch 1926, 1929).

Global distribution

Georgia (Lignau 1914; Muralevitch 1926, 1929; Bonato et al. 2016).

Note

Endemic to Georgia

Lithobius erythrocephalus C. L. Koch, 1847

Distribution in Georgia

Abkhazia • Bichvinta (2) (Zalesskaja 1972; Barjadze et al. 2015). Racha-Lechkhumi and Kvemo Svaneti • Tsivtskala II Cave (Ambrolauri) (29) (Zalesskaja 1972; Barjadze et al. 2015). • Tbilisi (53) (Muralevitch 1929; Muralevitch 1926 as Lithobius illyricus Latzel, 1880). • Georgia, without precise locality (Zapparoli 2002).

Global distribution

Albania, Austria, Belarus, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, North Macedonia, Monaco, Montenegro, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Romania, Russia, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Sweden, Switzerland, Ukraine (Bonato et al. 2016), Azerbaijan (Bababekova 1996), Georgia (Muralevitch 1926, 1929; Zalesskaja 1972; Zapparoli 2002), Iran (Zarei et al. 2020), Vietnam (Tran et al. 2013).

Lithobius erythrocephalus cronebergii Sseliwanoff, 1881

Distribution in Georgia

• Tbilisi (53) (Sseliwanoff 1881; Lignau 1914 as Lithobius cronebergii; Muralevitch 1926). • Georgia, without precise locality (Zapparoli 2002, Zalesskaja and Golovatch 1996: page 267, fig. 1).

Global distribution

Georgia (Sseliwanoff 1881; Lewis 1996; Lignau 1914; Muralevitch 1926; Zapparoli 2002), Azerbaijan (Bababekova 1996), Greece, Yemen (Lewis 1996).

Lithobius ferganensis (Trotzina, 1894)

Distribution in Georgia

Abkhazia • Akhali Atoni (=Novy Afon) (4) (Zalesskaja 1972). • Akhalsheni (6) (Zalesskaja 1972). Adjara • Batumi (12) (Dobroruka 1958; Zalesskaja 1972; Zalesskaja 1978 as Monotarsobius nodonotatus Verhoeff, 1943). • Mtsvane Kontskhi (16) (Zalesskaja 1972). Racha-Lechkhumi and Kvemo Svaneti • Kevselta (38) (Dyachkov and Zuev 2023 as Lithobius monotarsobius sseliwanoffi Garbowski, 1897). Samtskhe-Javakheti • Borjomi National Park (now called as Borjom-Kharagauli National Park, specimens are found in Borjomi territory) (31) (Zalesskaja 1972). • Bakuriani (35) (Zalesskaja 1972). Shida Kartli • Kvemo Ermani (41) (Dyachkov and Zuev 2023 as Lithobius monotarsobius sseliwanoffi Garbowski, 1897). Kvemo Kartli • Kojori (52) (Zalesskaja 1972). Mtskheta-Mtianeti • Karsani (50) (Zalesskaja 1972). • Tbilisi (53) (Zalesskaja 1972). • Georgia, without exact locality (Zalesskaja and Golovatch 1996 as Monotarsobius sseliwanoffi; Zalesskaja 1978 as Monotarsobius turkestanicus (Attems, 1904)).

Global distribution

Armenia, Greece, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Romania, Stavropol, Turkey (Bonato et al. 2016), Azerbaijan (Bababekova 1996), Georgia (Dobroruka 1958; Zalesskaja 1972, 1978), Iran (Zarei et al. 2020).

Note

In Zalesskaja 1972, for her misidentification, this species was mentioned as Monotarsobius curtipes, according to Zalesskaja´s handwritten correction to Monotarsobius sseliwanoffi in the printed copy in Tuf´s private collection.

Lithobius forficatus (Linnaeus, 1758)

Distribution in Georgia

Abkhazia • Akhali Atoni (=Novy Afon) (4) (Zalesskaja 1972). • village Eshera (5) (Lignau 1914; Zalesskaja 1972). • Sokhumi (7) (Muralevitch 1926, 1929). • near Sokhumi (5 km on the way to Akhali Atoni) (Lignau 1914; Zalesskaja 1972) (7). Imereti • Tkibuli (28) (Muralevitch 1926, 1929). • Georgia, without precise locality (Zapparoli 2002).

Global distribution

Albania, Austria, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, North Macedonia, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Malta, Montenegro, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Romania, Russia, Serbia, Slovenia, Switzerland, Turkey, United Kingdom, Introduced in North America, South America, St. Elena, Kuriles (Zapparoli 2002), Iran (Zarei et al. 2020).

Lithobius kessleri Sseliwanoff, 1881

Distribution in Georgia

Mtskheta-Mtianeti • Stepantsminda (=Kazbegi) (48) (Muralevitch 1926, 1929). Kakheti • Lagodekhi (57) (Muralevitch 1926, 1929). • Georgia, without precise locality (Sseliwanoff 1881).

Global distribution

Azerbaijan (Bonato et al. 2016), Georgia (Muralevitch 1926, 1929; Sseliwanoff 1881), Russia (Sseliwanoff 1881).

Note

Endemic to the Caucasus.

Lithobius lapidicola Meinert, 1872

Distribution in Georgia

Adjara • Batumi (12) (Attems 1907 as Lithobius pusillus Latzel, 1880). Mtskheta-Mtianeti • Gudauri (45) (Sseliwanoff 1881). • Stepantsminda (=Kazbegi) (48) (Sseliwanoff 1881).

Global distribution

Albania, Austria, Belgium, Bermuda, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Canary Islands, Croatia, Crete, Czech Republic, Denmark, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Lithuania, Moldova, Montenegro, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Ukraine, United Kingdom (Bonato et al. 2016), Azerbaijan (Bababekova 1996), Georgia (Sseliwanoff 1881; Attems 1907).

Lithobius lenkoranicus (Zalesskaja, 1976)

Distribution in Georgia

Adjara • Mtsvane Kontskhi (16) (Zalesskaja 1978 as Monotarsobius lenkoranicus Zalesskaja, 1976).

Global distribution

Azerbaijan, Georgia (Zalesskaja 1978).

Note

Endemic to the Caucasus.

Lithobius liber Lignau, 1903

Distribution in Georgia

Kakheti • Mirzaani (56) (Muralevitch 1926). •

Global distribution

Georgia (Muralevitch 1926; Turbanov et al. 2016), Caucasus and Crimea (Turbanov et al. 2016).

Lithobius lucifugus L. Koch, 1862

Distribution in Georgia

Abkhazia • Sokhumi (7) (Zalesskaja 1978). Racha-Lechkhumi and Kvemo Svaneti • Ambrolauri (29) (Zalesskaja 1978). Kakheti • Lagodekhi (57) (Muralevitch 1926, 1929). • Georgia, without precise locality (Zalesskaja and Golovatch 1996: page 267, fig. 2).

Global distribution

Albania, Austria, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Lithuania, Montenegro, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, Ukraine, United Kingdom (Bonato et al. 2016), Georgia (Muralevitch 1926, 1929; Zalesskaja 1978; Zalesskaja and Golovatch 1996).

Lithobius mutabilis L. Koch, 1862

Distribution in Georgia

Mtskheta-Mtianeti • Stepantsminda (=Kazbegi) (48) (Sseliwanoff 1881; Muralevitch 1926, 1929). • Tbilisi (53) (Muralevitch 1926). • Georgia, without precise locality (Zapparoli 2002, 2011).

Global distribution

Austria, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Poland, Romania, Russia, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Switzerland, Ukraine (Zapparoli 2002), Belgium (Lock 2009), Georgia (Sseliwanoff 1881; Muralevitch 1926, 1929; Zapparoli 2002, 2011).

Lithobius peregrinus Latzel, 1880

Distribution in Georgia

Abkhazia • Sokhumi (7) (Zalesskaja 1978). Racha-Lechkhumi and Kvemo Svaneti • caves of Ambrolauri municipality (29) (Zalesskaja 1978). Mtskheta-Mtianeti • Akhalgori (46) (Dyachkov and Zuev 2023). Kakheti • Lagodekhi (57) (Muralevitch 1926). • Georgia, without precise locality (Barber 2022).

Global distribution

Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Caucasus, Greece, Italy, North Macedonia, Montenegro, introduced in Africa, Bermuda Island, France, Panama, Spain, United Kingdom (Barber & Eason 1986), Georgia (Muralevitch 1926; Zalesskaja 1978; Barber 2022).

Lithobius piceus L. Koch, 1862

Distribution in Georgia

Abkhazia • Village Veli (Gagra) (1) (Muralevitch 1926, 1929 as Lithobius piceus caucasica Muralevitch, 1926). • Abkhazia, without precise locality (Muralevitch 1926, 1929 as Lithobius piceus caucasica Muralevitch, 1926). • Georgia, without precise locality (Zalesskaja and Golovatch 1996).

Global distribution

Austria, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Czech Republic, France, Germany, Hungary, Italy, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Ukraine, United Kingdom (Bonato et al. 2016), Azerbaijan (Bababekova 1996), Georgia (Muralevitch 1926, 1929; Zalesskaja and Golovatch 1996).

Lithobius portchinskii Sseliwanoff, 1881

Distribution in Georgia

Abkhazia • Akhalsheni (6) (Zalesskaja 1972). Adjara • Chakvi (17) (Zalesskaja 1972). Imereti • Sataplia I Cave (25) (Barjadze et al. 2015; Turbanov et al. 2016). • Sataplia protected area (26) (Zalesskaja 1972). Samtskhe-Javakheti • Borjomi National Park (now called as Borjom-Kharagauli National Park, specimens are found in Borjomi territory) (31) (Zalesskaja 1972). • Akhalkalaki (34) (Muralevitch 1926, 1929). Mtskheta-Mtianeti • Stepantsminda (=Kazbegi) (48) (Sseliwanoff 1881; Muralevitch 1926, 1929). Kakheti • Lagodekhi (57) (Muralevitch 1926, 1929).

Global distribution

Azerbaijan (Bababekova 1996), Georgia (Sseliwanoff 1881; Muralevitch 1926, 1929; Zalesskaja 1972; Turbanov et al. 2016).

Note

Endemic to the Caucasus.

Lithobius reconditus Zalesskaja, 1972

Distribution in Georgia

Abkhazia • Akhalsheni (6) (Zalesskaja 1972). • Sokhumi (Avidzba Cave) (7) (Zalesskaja 1972; Turbanov et al. 2016). Imereti • Sakire Cave (=Chuneshi Cave) (22) (Zalesskaja 1972; Turbanov et al. 2016). • Sataplia Cave (24) (Zalesskaja 1972). • Sataplia I Cave (24) (Barjadze et al. 2015; Turbanov et al. 2016). • Tsikhe Cave (Zeda Kvilishori Cave) (25) (Zalesskaja 1972). • Zeda Kvilishori Cave (25) (Turbanov et al. 2016). • Orpiri Cave (27) (Zalesskaja 1972; Turbanov et al. 2016). • Sakishore Cave (30) (Zalesskaja 1972; Turbanov et al. 2016). • Mgelaklde Cave (Chiatura) (32) (Zalesskaja 1972). • Bnelaklde Cave (Chiatura) (32) (Turbanov et al. 2016). • Georgia, without precise locality (Zalesskaja 1978).

Global distribution

Georgia (Zalesskaja 1972, 1978; Bonato et al. 2016), Russia (Zalesskaja 1978).

Note

Endemic to the Caucasus.

Lithobius sectilis (Zalesskaja, 1976)

Distribution in Georgia

Abkhazia • Sokhumi (7) (Zalesskaja 1976). Adjara • Batumi (12) (Zalesskaja 1976). • Mtsvane Kontskhi (16) (Zalesskaja 1976). Samtskhe-Javakheti • Borjomi National Park (31) (Zalesskaja 1976). Mtskheta-Mtianeti • Tsodoreti (49) (Zalesskaja 1976). • Georgia, without precise locality (Zalesskaja 1978 as Monotarsobius sectilis).

Global distribution

Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia (Zalesskaja 1976, 1978; Bonato et al. 2016).

Note

Endemic to the Caucasus. In Zalesskaja 1976, this species was mentioned as Monotarsobius sectilis Zalesskaja, 1976. This species was sooner reported by Zalesskaja (1972, 1972a) under the name Monotarsobius burzenlandicus euxinicus Prunescu, 1965 (Zalesskaja 1976)..

Lithobius striatus Muralevitch, 1926 (= Lithobius fasciatus Muralevitch, 1929, syn. nov.)

Distribution in Georgia

Abkhazia • Akhalsheni (6) (Zalesskaja 1972). • Sokhumi (7) (Zalesskaja 1978). Adjara • Batumi (12) (Zalesskaja 1978). • Mtsvane Kontskhi (16) (Zalesskaja 1972). • Kintrishi Strict Nature Reserve (21) (Zalesskaja 1972). Samegrelo-Zemo Svaneti • Poti (14) (Zalesskaja 1978). Imereti • Sataplia Nature Reserve (26) (Zalesskaja 1972). Kakheti • Lagodekhi (57) (Muralevitch 1926, Muralevitch 1929 and Zalesskaja 1978 as Lithobius fasciatus Muralevitch, 1929).

Global distribution

Azerbaijan, Georgia, Russia (Muralevitch 1926, 1929; Zalesskaja 1972, 1978).

Note

Endemic to the Caucasus. Bonato et al. (2016) noted that “number of specimens, collecting localities and original description published by Muralevitch (1929 - Mém. Séct. Zool. Soc. Amis Sci. Nat., Anthr., Etnogr., 4: 102) are perfectly coincident with the data published by Muralevitch (1926 - Zool. Anz., 69: 36) for Lithobius striatus n. sp.”. It is true that Muralevitch described several species of Lithobiidae twice, firstly in 1926 in Zoologischer Anzeiger and for the second time three years later [in Russian] in Memoires de la Section Zoologique de la Societe des Amis des Sciences Naturelles, d'Anthropologie et d 'Ethnographie. The second description is much more precise, but this paper is devoted just to Lithobiomorpha and Scutigeromorpha with a note in the introduction, that the next volume will contain data for other orders. A typographic footnote in Russian paper contains the year 1926 (see Muralevitch 1929: 4). Probably the delay in publishing of the Russian first part (in freshly created journal) forced Muralevitch (1926) to publish the “second” part in Zoologischer Anzeiger with a shortened version of the first part. Despite differences in morphology used by Zalesskaja (1978) in her key, descriptions of both species, L. striatus and L. fasciatus, are identical. Moreover, species L. fasciatus is missing in the later paper, the only missing species among all other previously described species. Zalesskaja´s (1978: 84–85) notes on localities of L. striatus in papers of Lignau (1903) and Muralevitch (1907, 1929) are confusing. It is obvious that Muralevitch (1926) changed his opinion about the name of this taxon and L. fasciatus is a junior objective synonym of L. striatus. Homonymous species L. fasciatus Newport, 1844, described from Italy, was transferred into the genus Eupolybothrus Verhoeff, 1907. Perhaps recognized homonymy with Newport's species by Muralevitch was the reason for the name shifting of his L. fasciatus to L. striatus.

Lithobius striatus monosulcatus Folkmanová, 1958

Distribution in Georgia

Abkhazia • Akhalsheni (6) (Zalesskaja 1972). • Sokhumi (7) (Zalesskaja 1978). Adjara • Batumi (12) (Zalesskaja 1978). • Mtsvane Kontskhi (16) (Zalesskaja 1972). • Kintrishi Strict Nature Reserve (21) (Zalesskaja 1972). Samegrelo-Zemo Svaneti • Poti (14) (Zalesskaja 1978). Imereti • Sataplia Nature Reserve (26) (Zalesskaja 1972).

Global distribution

Georgia (Zalesskaja 1972, 1978), Russia (Zalesskaja 1978).

Note

Endemic to the Caucasus.

Lithobius stuxbergii Sseliwanoff, 1881

Distribution in Georgia

Abkhazia • Otapistavi Cave (11) (Zalesskaja 1972, Barjadze et al. 2015, Turbanov et al. 2016). • Bank of river Chkhalta at 1130 m a.s.l. (13) (Lignau 1914 as Lithobius vehemens Lignau, 1903). Imereti • Sataplia Protected Area (26) (Zalesskaja 1972 as L. vehemens). • Sataplia I Cave (25) (Turbanov et al. 2016). Kakheti • Mirzaani (56) (Muralevitch 1926, 1929, as L. vehemens).

Global distribution

Georgia (Muralevitch 1926, 1929; Zalesskaja 1972; Turbanov et al. 2016). This species could be found in caves of Crimea and in caves of the Caucasus (Turbanov et al. 2016).

Lithobius subtilis Latzel, 1880

Distribution in Georgia

Abkhazia • Akhali Atoni (=Novy Afon) (4) (Muralevitch 1926, 1929; Zalesskaja 1978).

Global distribution

Georgia (Muralevitch 1926, 1929; Zalesskaja 1978), Austria, France, Germany, Hungary, Netherlands, Slovakia, Switzerland (Bonato et al. 2016).

Lithobius taczanowski Sseliwanoff, 1881

Distribution in Georgia

Mtskheta-Mtianeti • Stepantsminda (=Kazbegi) (48) (Sseliwanoff 1881; Muralevitch 1926, 1929).

Global distribution

Georgia (Sseliwanoff 1881; Muralevitch 1926, 1929).

Note

Endemic to Georgia.

Lithobius tuberculipes (Folkmanová, 1958)

Distribution in Georgia

Abkhazia • Akhalsheni (6) (Zalesskaja 1972 as Monotarsobius tuberculipes Folkmanová, 1958).

Global distribution

Georgia (Zalesskaja 1972), Krasnodar, Krasnaja Poljana (Zalesskaja 1978 as M. tuberculipes).

Note

Endemic to the Caucasus.

Lithobius validus Meinert, 1872

Distribution in Georgia

Adjara • Batumi (12) (Dobroruka 1958; Zalesskaja 1978 as Lithobius validus rotteri Dobroruka, 1958).

Global distribution

Albania, Austria, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Czech Republic, France, Germany, Hungary, Italy, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Turkey, former Yugoslavia (Zapparoli 2011), Georgia (Dobroruka 1958; Zalesskaja 1978).

Lithobius verrucifer Muralevitch, 1926

Distribution in Georgia

Abkhazia • Akhali Atoni (=Novy Afon) (4) (Muralevitch 1926, 1929; Zalesskaja 1978 as Monotarsobius verrucifer (Muralevitch, 1926)).

Global distribution

Georgia (Muralevitch 1926, 1929; Zalesskaja 1978 as M. verrucifer).

Note

Endemic to Georgia.

Lithobius viriatus Sseliwanoff, 1880

Distribution in Georgia

Abkhazia • Sokhumi (7) (Sseliwanoff, 1881; Muralevitch 1926, 1929). • near Sokhumi (7) (Lignau 1914). • Tsebelda (8) (Lignau 1914). • Marukhi summit (9) (Lignau 1914). • Lata (10) (Lignau 1914). Adjara • Batumi (12) (Attems 1907, as Lithobius corcyraeus pontica Attems, 1907). Racha-Lechkhumi and Kvemo Svaneti • Kvaisi (36) (Dyachkov and Zuev 2023). Samtskhe-Javakheti • Borjomi (33) (Sseliwanoff, 1881; Muralevitch 1926, 1929). Shida Kartli • Gromi (40) (Dyachkov and Zuev 2023). Kvemo Kartli • Manglisi (42) (Muralevitch 1926, 1929 as Lithobius oblongus Sseliwanoff, 1881). • Manglisi (43) (Sseliwanoff 1881; Muralevitch 1926, 1929). Mtskheta-Mtianeti • Stepantsminda (=Kazbegi) (48) (Sseliwanoff 1881 as Lithobius viriatus similis Sseliwanoff, 1881; Muralevitch 1926, 1929). • Tbilisi (53) (Sseliwanoff, 1881; Muralevitch 1926, 1929; Zalesskaja 1972). • Georgia, without precise localites (Zalesskaja and Golovatch 1996).

Global distribution

Albania, Azerbaijan, Bulgaria, Israel, Italy, Jordan, Turkey, Ukraine (Bonato et al. 2016), Georgia (Attems 1907; Lignau 1914; Muralevitch 1926, 1929; Zalesskaja 1972; Zalesskaja and Golovatch 1996), Iran (Zarei et al. 1986).

Family Henicopidae Pocock, 1901

Genus Lamyctes Meinert, 1868

Lamyctes emarginatus (Newport, 1844)

Distribution in Georgia

Abkhazia • Akhali Atoni (=Novy Afon) (4) (Muralevitch 1910, 1929 as Lamyctes fulvicornis Meinert, 1868). • Georgia, without precise locality (Zalesskaja 1978 as Lithobius fulvicornis).

Global distribution

Australia, Fiji, Hawaii, New Caledonia, New Zealand, widespread in Europe and North America, introduced to Africa and several islands (Voigtländer 2011), Georgia (Muralevitch 1910, 1929; Zalesskaja 1978).

Order Scolopendromorpha Pocock, 1895

Family Cryptopidae Kohlrausch, 1881

Genus Cryptops Leach, 1814

Cryptops anomalans Newport, 1844

Distribution in Georgia

Abkhazia • village Eshera (5) (Lignau 1914). • Kakheti, without precise locality (Sseliwanoff 1884 as Cryptops punctatus C. L. Koch 1847).

Global distribution

Albania, Algeria, Austria, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, France, North Macedonia, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Montenegro, Morocco, Netherlands, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Switzerland, Tunisia, Turkey, Ukraine, United Kingdom (Simaiakis et al. 2016), Azerbaijan (Bababekova 1996), Georgia (Sseliwanoff 1884; Lignau 1914), Russia (Zalesskaja & Shileyko 1992).

Cryptops caucasius Verhoeff, 1934

Distribution in Georgia

Shida Kartli • Gromi (40) (Dyachkov and Zuev 2023). Kakheti • Lagodekhi Nature Reserve (57) (Tuf et al. 2022).

Global distribution

Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Ukraine (Bonato et al. 2016), Georgia (Tuf et al. 2022).

Cryptops datviensis Tuf, Barjadze & Maghradze, 2022

Distribution in Georgia

Imereti • Datvi Cave (23) (Tuf et al. 2022).

Global distribution

This species is known from the type locality only. Probably it can be found in the neighbouring caves (Tuf et al. 2022).

Note

Endemic to Georgia.

Cryptops hortensis (Donovan, 1810)

Distribution in Georgia

Abkhazia • Gagra (1) (Muralevitch 1926). • Near Sokhumi (7) (Lignau 1914). Tsebelda (8) (Lignau 1914). • Georgia, without precise locality (Zapparoli 2002).

Global distribution

Albania, Armenia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, North Macedonia, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Montenegro, Morocco, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Tajikistan, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, United Kingdom, Uzbekistan, introduced to North America, Island Hawaii, Island St. Helena (Zapparoli and Biondi 2007), Georgia (Lignau 1914; Muralevitch 1926; Zapparoli 2002).

Family Scolopendridae Newport, 1844

Genus Scolopendra Linnaeus, 1758

Scolopendra canidens Newport, 1844

Distribution in Georgia

• Tbilisi (53) (Muralevitch 1926).

Global distribution

Algeria, Egypt, Iran, Italy, Libya, Morocco, Tunisia, Turkey (Bonato et al. 2016), Azerbaijan (Bababekova 1996), Georgia (Muralevitch 1926).

Scolopendra cingulata Latreille, 1829

Distribution in Georgia

Abkhazia • Gagra (1) (Muralevitch 1926). • Tbilisi (53) (Eichwald 1841). • Georgia, without precise locality (Kessler 1874).

Global distribution

Albania, Algeria, Bulgaria, Caucasus, Croatia, Cyprus, Egypt, France, North Macedonia, Greece, Hungary, Iran, Israel, Italy, Jordan, Lebanon, Libya, Malta, Moldova, Montenegro, Morocco, Palestine, Portugal, Romania, Serbia, Slovenia, Spain, Syria, Tadjikistan, Tunisia, Turkey, Ukraine (Simaiakis et al. 2016), Azerbaijan (Bababekova 1996), Georgia (Kessler 1874; Muralevitch 1926).

Order Geophilomorpha Pocock, 1895

Family Geophilidae Leach 1816

Genus Clinopodes C. L. Koch, 1847

Clinopodes caucasicus (Sseliwanoff, 1884)

Distribution in Georgia

Racha-Leckhumi and Kvemo Svaneti • Kvaisi (36) (Dyachkov and Zuev 2023). Mtskheta-Mtianeti • Gudauri (45) (Sseliwanoff 1884; Bonato et al. 2011; Dyachkov et al. 2022). • Akhalgori (46) (Dyachkov and Zuev 2023). • Sioni (54) (Bonato et al. 2011). • Tbilisi (53) (Bonato et al. 2011). • Kakheti, without precise locality (Sseliwanoff 1884; Dyachkov et al. 2022).

Global distribution

Caucasus and eastern Anatolia (Bonato et al. 2011), Georgia (Sseliwanoff 1884; Bonato et al. 2011; Dyachkov et al. 2022), Turkey (Bonato et al. 2016).

Clinopodes escherichii (Verhoeff, 1896)

Distribution in Georgia

• Tbilisi (53) (Attems 1901; Muralevitch 1910; Dobroruka 1958).

Global distribution

From the Balkan Peninsula north to the Carpathians, as well as in Turkey, Greece and Russia (Bonato et al. 2011), Azerbaijan (Bababekova 1996), Georgia (Dobroruka 1958).

Clinopodes flavidus C. L. Koch, 1847

Distribution in Georgia

Mtskheta-Mtianeti • Mtskheta (51) (Muralevitch 1926 as Geophilus flavidus setosus). Kakheti • Lagodekhi (57) (Muralevitch 1926 as G. flavidus, G. flavidus setosus Lignau, 1903 and G. flavidus polytrichus Attems, 1903).

Global distribution

Albania, Austria, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Caucasus, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, North Macedonia, Greece, Italy, Montenegro, Palestine, Poland, Romania, Russia, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Syria, Turkestan, Turkey, Ukraine (Simaiakis et al. 2016), Azerbaijan (Bababekova 1996), Georgia (Muralevitch 1926; Lignau 1914), Iran (Zarei et al. 2020).

Genus Geophilus Leach, 1814

Geophilus electricus (Linnaeus, 1758)

Distribution in Georgia

• Tbilisi (53) (Eichwald 1841).

Global distribution

Austria, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Czech Republic, Germany, Hungary, Italy, Luxembourg, Poland, Romania, Serbia, Slovenia, Slovakia, Switzerland, United Kingdom (Barber 2022), Georgia (Eichwald 1841), Georgia (Eichwald 1841).

Geophilus truncorum (Bergsøe & Meinert, 1866)

Distribution in Georgia

Abkhazia • Tetritskala (3) (Muralevitch 1926).

Global distribution

Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Germany, Morocco, Netherlands, Poland, Slovakia, Spain, United Kingdom (Barber 2022), Georgia (Muralevitch 1926).

Genus Henia C.L. Koch, 1847

Henia bicarinata (Meinert, 1870)

Distribution in Georgia

Shida Kartli • Akhalgori (46) (Dyachkov and Zuev 2023).

Global distribution

Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, France, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Portugal, Spain, Maghreb, Turkey, Caucasus (Zapparoli & Iorio 2012), Azerbaijan (Bababekova 1996), Cyprus (Simaiakis et al. 2013), Georgia (Dyachkov and Zuev 2023), Iran (Zarei et al. 2020).

Henia phrixi Lignau, 1914

Distribution in Georgia

Abkhazia • Village Eshera (5) (Lignau 1914).

Global distribution

Georgia (Lignau 1914).

Note

Endemic to Georgia.

Genus Pachymerium C. L. Koch, 1847

Pachymerium ferrugineum (C. L. Koch, 1835)

Distribution in Georgia

Samtskhe-Javakheti • Borjomi (33) (Muralevitch 1926). Kakheti • Lagodekhi (57) (Muralevitch 1926).

Global distribution

Alaska, Albania, Algeria, Austria, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Caucasus, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Finland, France, North Macedonia, Greece, Hungary, Iran, Italy, Latvia, Morocco, Netherlands, Norway, Palestine, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Turkey, Tunisia, Turkestan, United Kingdom (Zapparoli 2002), Azerbaijan (Bababekova 1996), Georgia (Muralevitch 1926).

Genus Schizopleres Folkmanová, 1956

Schizopleres giljarovi Folkmanová, 1956

Distribution in Georgia

• Adjara, without precise locality (Titova 1969).

Global distribution

Russia: Krasnodar (Folkmanová 1956), Georgia (Titova 1969).

Note

Endemic to the Caucasus.

Genus Strigamia Gray, 1843

Strigamia acuminata (Leach, 1815)

Distribution in Georgia

Abkhazia • Marukhi summit (9) (Lignau 1914 as Scolioplanes acuminatus), • Abkhazia, without precise locality (Titova 1969 as S. acuminatus).

Global distribution

Albania, Austria, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Caucasus, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, France, Germany, Hungary, Italy, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Switzerland, Turkey, United Kingdom (Barber 2022), Georgia (Lignau 1914; Titova 1969).

Strigamia cf. transsilvanica (Verhoeff, 1928)

Distribution in Georgia

Shida Kartli • Kvemo Ermani (41) (Dyachkov and Zuev 2023).

Note

The range of S. transsilvanica extends to Greece on the south and to the Carpathians on the east (Bonato et al. 2012), its occurrence in the Caucasus seems therefore unlikely. The taxonomic identity of the species quoted by Dyachkov and Zuev (2023) should be assessed.

Genus Pleurogeophilus Verhoeff, 1901

Pleurogeophilus caucasicus Folkmanová, 1958

Distribution in Georgia

Adjara • Mtsvane Kontskhi (16) (Titova 1975 as Pleurogeophilus goricensis caucasicus Folkmanová, 1958).

Global distribution

Ukraine (Bonato et al. 2016), Georgia (Titova 1975).

Family Himantariidae Bollman, 1893

Genus Bothriogaster Sseliwanoff, 1879

Bothriogaster signata (Kessler, 1874)

Distribution in Georgia

• Tbilisi (53) (Sseliwanoff 1881 as Bothriogaster affinis Sseliwanoff, 1879).

Global distribution

Albania, Bulgaria, Cyprus, North Macedonia, Kazakhstan, Tadzhikistan, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan (Bonato et al. 2016), Azerbaijan (Bababekova 1996), Georgia (Sseliwanoff 1881), Iran (Zarei et al. 2020).

Genus Thracophilus Verhoeff, 1926

Thracophilus cilicius Attems, 1947

Distribution in Georgia

Adjara • Batumi (12) (Titova 1978).

Global distribution

Cyprus (Simaiakis et al. 2013), Georgia (Titova 1978), Turkey (Bonato et al. 2016)

Discussion

The territory of Georgia is part of the Caucasus ecoregion and therefore of great interest in terms of biodiversity research. Nevertheless, most reports on the presence of centipede species in Georgia have not been updated for many years, with the exceptions of two publications published in recent years (Tuf et al. 2022; Dyachkov & Zuev 2023). As shown in Figure 1, a large part of the country's territory is unexplored. Due to the diversity of landscapes and habitats that centipedes inhabit, we believe that additional research is important.

At present, there are 59 centipede taxa (57 species and 2 subspecies) that are known to exist in Georgia. These taxa are organized into 16 genera (the following are listed alphabetically: Australobius, Bothriogaster, Clinopodes, Cryptops, Geophilus, Harpolithobius, Henia, Lamyctes, Lithobius, Pachymerium, Pleurogeophilus, Schizopleres, Scolopendra, Scutigera, Strigamia, Thracophilus) in seven families (Cryptopidae, Geophilidae, Henicopidae, Himantariidae, Lithobiidae, Scolopendridae, Scutigeridae) within four orders (14 taxa in Geophilomorpha, 38 in Lithobiomorpha, six in Scolopendromorpha, and one in Scutigeromorpha). Nineteen taxa are endemic to Caucasus (Lithobius asper, L. colchicus, L. kessleri, L. lenkoranicus, L. portchinskii, L. reconditus, L. sectilis, L. striatus, L. striatus monosulcatus, L. tuberculipes, Schizopleres giljarovi) including eight endemic to Georgia (Cryptops datviensis, Harpolithobius birsteini, Henia phrixi, Lithobius circassus, L. corniger, L. elegans, L. taczanowski, L. verrucifer). Of the 59 taxa, 11 species are found in caves, although only two of them are troglobionts (C. datviensis and H. birsteini).

The main part of the species records is from the end of the late 19th century to the nineties of the 20th century. The latest description of a centipede from Georgia is about C. datviensis, which is described from Datvi Cave in the Imereti region of western Georgia (Tuf et al. 2022). Dyachkov and Zuev (2023) published an article about centipedes distributed in one of the regions of Georgia, Samachablo = South Ossetia. Seven species were recorded for the first time in this area, including Henia bicarinata (Meinert, 1870) not known from Georgia before. Several species are mentioned in the literature, but their existence in the territory of Georgia is considered doubtful and is not mentioned in the list. One of these doubtful species is Lithobius caucasicus Sseliwanoff, 1881. Muralevitch (1910, 1926) mentioned Lars among localities, where this species was collected. Lars is a village on the territory of Russia (near the Georgian-Russian border) and also the name of a certain geographical area in Georgia, where there is a checkpoint. Another doubtful record is Lamyctes coeculus (Brölemann, 1889). Nefediev et al. (2016) mentioned that this species is distributed in Georgia, but there is no information about Georgia in the literature referred to in this article.

Australobius semperi (Haase, 1887), reported in Abkhazia, Georgia, as Lithobius semperi Haase, 1887, by Lignau (1914), should be a misidentification as this species is known from the Philippines, Vietnam, and Laos only (Tran et al. 2013). The last doubtful species is Scolopocryptops nigridus McNeill, 1887, for which Bonato et al. (2016) listed Georgia (in the Asia-Temperate section) in distribution, but this species is common in the US. The American state of Georgia and the country of Georgia are probably confused.

It is important to note that unidentified species of Lithobius and Harpolithobius are mentioned in some caves (Birstein 1950; Barjadze et al. 2015) and in surface localities (Dyachkov and Zuev 2023) of the study area. Consequently, the number of species can increase.

It should be mentioned that 32% of centipede taxa (species and subspecies) known from Georgia are endemic to the Caucasus. There are no endemic genera or families among the Georgian centipedes. Taking into consideration the fact that Georgian centipede fauna is poorly investigated and Georgia is a country with high landscape diversity, there is a higher probability of finding new species and even new genera of centipedes in its territory in the future.

Acknowledgements

The investigation was supported by the project: “Modern state of fauna of Georgia, status, conservation problems” funded by the Ministry of Education and Science of Georgia. We are grateful to Dragan Antić (Serbia) for providing publications about Georgian centipedes and to Mariam Gogshelidze (Ilia State University, Georgia) for preparing the map of the sampling sites of the Georgian centipedes. Valuable reviews were done by two reviewers, Marzio Zapparoli (Italy) and Dalibor Stojanović (Serbia). Their suggestions and corrections, as well as those from the editor, Dragan Antić (Serbia), improved the quality of the manuscript.

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